The United States has introduced sweeping new sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine, targeting Russia’s future energy potential and evasion of previously imposed sanctions.
They are also directed against kamikaze drones, which pose a threat to Ukrainian troops and equipment.
The new measures target a major company involved in the development, operation and ownership of the massive Arctic LNG 2 project in Siberia, the State Department said.
The project is related to the transportation of liquefied natural gas to world markets.
Washington has also targeted the Kub-BLA and Lancet kamikaze drones used by the Russian military in Ukraine. The sanctions included a network that the United States accused of purchasing goods for its production, as well as the creator and designer of drones.
The US Department of Commerce on Thursday placed 13 entities from Russia and Uzbekistan on its export control list for actions contrary to national security and foreign policy interests.
The United States has also taken action against sanctions evasion through the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and China. The Treasury Department said companies based in those countries continue to ship dual-use products to Russia, including components that Moscow targets in its weapons systems.
Seven Russian banks and dozens of industrial companies, including Gazpromneft-Catalytic Systems, were also sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry of Finance, the company produces chemical reagents for modern oil refining in Russia.
The United States is trying to target future energy production in Russia, just as it targeted future deepwater, shale and Arctic oil production after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. All of these projects depend on Western technologies.
The United States itself is a major producer of LNG, which it exports to Europe. Washington is trying to reduce the supply of Russian LNG to Europe, which has only banned the supply of Russian gas by pipeline.
The Arctic LNG 2 project was expected to begin exports soon, and it is unclear how much Russian LNG will be tied up by the new measures.
Washington also imposed sanctions on the Russian company ZALA Aero, which the State Department says develops, produces and sells loitering munitions and kamikaze drones to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Russian company A-Level Aerosystems, which produces and markets drones under the ZALA brand, was also sanctioned.
Sanctions were also imposed against the companies’ owner, Alexander Zakharov, his wife, daughter and sons, as well as the companies he owned.
